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Barry Nelson served as president of the Mercer County chapter of PASR and chairman of various committees. His life was dedicated to the creed: “If not me, then who? If not now, then when?” This idea motivated him to leave one career and start a new one as a teacher for the Commodore Perry School District. Both students and colleagues knew that if they needed help, they could count on Barry.  His life of service continued after his retirement. He worked on projects for his church, MCPASR, and PASR. While doing this, he was developing plans for his dream. Barry had a vision of providing opportunities for children to receive the basic necessities needed to thrive as students and to grow into successful adults. Students who are worried about basic needs cannot focus on learning, so his vision was to establish rooms in local schools to give students in need access to free clothing and personal care items so they had one less worry.  After his unexpected death, fellow current and retired teachers established The Barry Nelson Foundation Committee. They are working through the Community Foundation of Mercer County to establish Nelson’s Nook, a room at Commodore Perry where Commodore Perry students and their families can find needed clothing, personal care items, and school supplies. They are asking for help in the form of donated items, money, and time.  Eventually, they would like to expand the program to other schools in Mercer County. For more information on items or monetary donations, click here.